Hockey India reacts to a range of jerseys, preventing the change in color from blue to saffron

Hockey India has defended its decision to introduce a predominantly saffron playing kit for the Indian team at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup after the move drew widespread opposition from fans and members of the hockey fraternity. Among those who criticized the decision was the former Indian captain Viren Rasquinha, who called the move “embarrassing” and questioned the logic of replacing the country’s iconic blue kit.

The unveiling of the new jersey sparked a debate on social media, with many supporters arguing that blue has long been synonymous with Indian hockey and forms a key part of the team’s identity. Rasquinha echoed those sentiments, saying the national team’s legacy has always been associated with the blue jersey and that fans would prefer to see India continue in their traditional colours.

Introducing India’s new jersey!

Every stitch tells a story. Every pattern, every color carries Indian pride.

Our teams are ready to make the country proud again at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026.

: Select 2 (SD+HD)+ Khel & JioHotstar
: August pic.twitter.com/8GvwbByapq— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 27, 2026

WHY WAS THE HOCKEY JERSEY CHANGED?

Responding to the criticism, Hockey India said the decision was taken after detailed consultation with players, coaches and support staff, insisting that the change was driven primarily by technical considerations rather than aesthetics.

“We would like to inform you that the decision to change the color of the uniform was based on the recommendations of and detailed consultation with the support staff and players. The primary consideration was technical. It was observed that the blue playing uniform tended to blend in/blend with the blue synthetic playing surface, which is now the standard color of international hockey pitches. This visual similarity affected the clarity on the pitch and visibility for the players,” Hockey India said in a statement.

The federation added that several alternatives were considered before a final decision was made.

“In light of the above, the coaches and players have suggested alternative colors like yellow or saffron. After careful consideration, saffron has been finalised. Apart from addressing the technical requirements, saffron also has a deep meaning as one of the colors of our national flag which symbolizes courage, sacrifice and national pride,” added Hockey India.

Hockey India also emphasized that changes to the national team kit are not unprecedented. The federation noted that India’s kit had been modified to suit functional requirements on previous occasions, with the team wearing yellow during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup before switching to a redesigned sky blue strip for the 2018 edition.

The jersey debate comes at a crucial stage in India’s preparations for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. Captain Harmanpreet Singh-led India will head to the World Cup with a full squad after encouraging performances in the latter stages of the FIH Pro League. With the Belgium-Netherlands tournament coming up, India are looking to end their 51-year wait for a second men’s hockey World Cup title.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

Jul 30, 2026 1:18 PM IST